Nvidia's French Offices Raided In Cloud-Computing Competition Inquiry

According to the Wall Street Journal, Nvidia's French offices were raided this week on suspicion the chipmaker engaged in anticompetitive practices. Reuters reports: The French competition authority, which disclosed the dawn raid on Wednesday, did not say what practices it was investigating or which company it had targeted, beyond saying it was in the "graphics cards sector." The French competition authority said that its operation this week followed a broader inquiry into the cloud-computing sector. The broader inquiry revolves around concerns that cloud-computing companies could use their access to computing power to exclude smaller competitors.

This week's operation had targeted Nvidia, which is the world's largest maker of chips used both for artificial intelligence and for computer graphics, the WSJ report added, citing people familiar with the raid. Chips originally made for computer graphics are suited for AI-related computing.

Nice company you got there...

[Local ID10T]

Be a shame if something were to happen to it.

Re:

[AncalagonTotof]

Since when ? There are many people that should be behind bars here. One of the most iconic case where the "justice" has been bought: Bernard Arnault (LVMH) hired former secret services Squarcini (former, but still using his former connections) to spy on François Ruffin, his very small newspaper Fakir and some employees. The price for tranquillity ? 10 millions €. While Squarcini is still investigated and sued. [duckduckgo.com]
In the same time, that's jail for protesters, or people who steal food because they sta

AI does NOT mean "violence" by default stupid.

[geekmux]

...citing people familiar with the raid. Chips originally made for computer graphics are suited for AI-related computing.

Hey editors. When it comes to making up bullshit reasons to "justify" a RAID on a computer hardware vendor, try not to "help" so fucking much.

Doi

[llZENll]

Are they also concerned that companies with a large cash reserve might use it to get ahead and beat smaller startups?

Re:

[geekmux]

Are they also concerned that companies with a large cash reserve might use it to get ahead and beat smaller startups?

What exactly is the concern there? That capitalism is getting "out of hand", or that profits should be outlawed if they exceed some arbitrary level, because 'no fair' is what THAT part of the world caters to for some reason?

Oh, and raiding is one hell of a way to 'encourage' both big and small companies that you support their efforts to pay taxes. Might as well shutter the business with that kind of government 'support'.

Re:

[Shades72]

Ever dealt with NVidia? As one company to them?
They are not pleasant to deal with. While I have no proof or anything like that, I can tell you that, because of past experiences, I would not be surprised if their usual business tactics are backfiring right now in France. I also put it not past NVidea that any warning of a raid was waved away as "Nope, not in a million years that would happen to us".

Apparently it just happened. Their graphic cards, while absolutely powerful and solid engineering, are getting

France's tech war

[Anonymous Coward]

They can't compete with US tech companies so they just legislate them away.